WASHINGTON, DC · PRIVATE NONPROFIT
American University reported a $41,943 average net price, a completion rate of 77.0%, $79,081 median earnings four years after completion, and $22,750 median federal debt among completers in the June 2026 College Scorecard release.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College ScorecardPage compiled September 16, 2026Download source data ↗
01 · Earnings after completion
American University’s median earnings were $79,081 four years after completion and $72,598 five years after completion, based on 2,193 and 1,608 working graduates, respectively.
The red marker shows the federal earnings threshold where available. Earnings cover graduates who were working and not enrolled; they do not include every former student.
02 · Cost after grant aid
American University reported a $41,943 average net price. Published lower-income figures were $23,233 for households below $30,001 and $20,444 for households from $30,001 to $48,000.
| Federal income band | Average net price |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $23,233 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $20,444 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $26,035 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $30,063 |
| $110,001+ | $53,673 |
Average net price is cost of attendance minus average grant and scholarship aid for the defined cohort. Your actual price depends on the institution’s aid offer.
03 · Student progress and aid
American University reported a completion rate of 77.0%, a retention rate of 87.2%, a Pell-recipient share of 13.9%, and a federal-loan share of 38.0%.
These percentages have different denominators. Completion and retention describe first-time student cohorts; Pell and federal-loan shares describe undergraduate aid receipt.
04 · Federal student debt
Median federal debt among American University completers was $22,750 across 2,000 reported borrowers. The figure is cumulative debt, not annual cost or a monthly payment.
$22,750
Borrower repayment progress after four years: 39.0% across a reported cohort of 1,832 undergraduate completers.
05 · Field-of-study evidence
7 American University programs met this site’s evidence threshold, including Business Administration, Management and Operations, Economics, and Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication.
A program page requires at least 75 working graduates plus published four-year earnings and median debt. This is our evidence threshold, not a federal rating.
06 · Nearby comparison set
This report lists 6 other private nonprofit institutions in District of Columbia that match American University on state and control type; the set is not ranked.
Answers at a glance
The American University FAQ reports $41,943 average net price, $79,081 four-year median earnings, and $22,750 median federal debt.
The reported average net price was $41,943 for the applicable Title IV student cohort. It is a cohort average, not an individual aid offer.
American University’s median earnings were $79,081 four years after completion and $72,598 five years after completion, based on 2,193 and 1,608 working graduates, respectively.
Median federal debt among American University completers was $22,750 across 2,000 reported borrowers. The figure is cumulative debt, not annual cost or a monthly payment.
